With the opioid epidemic as a cause for the loss of many lives, an alternative pain management solution is needed. A solution that is free of the dangerous side effects and risks that accompany the opioid usage, such as the addiction.

In response to the opioid crisis the American College of Physicians recently issued new guidelines for pain management. This guideline for managing low back pain is highlighting spinal manipulation.

Authors reviewed studies related to treatments for adults with low back pain including the use of medications as well as other noninvasive treatments and their recommendations include implementing spinal manipulation in order to postpone pharmacologic management.

According to this guideline, the initial treatment or most patients with acute and subacute pain should consist of heat therapy, massage, acupuncture, and spinal manipulation or chiropractic care. And the medications such as ibuprofen or muscle relaxers should be discussed only if these treatments do not work. For patients with chronic pain, the recommendations also include non-medication treatments such as corrective exercise, rehabilitation therapy, acupuncture, motor control exercises, low-level laser therapy, and spinal manipulation.

The researchers also suggest that opioids should be considered only if no other treatments work and only if there are more beneﬁts than risks for an individual patient.

If you read our previous post you already know the risks of opioids. While those risks are frightening, the risk of care administered by chiropractors (spinal manipulation, corrective exercise, and active release technique) pose no serious threat and is associated only with transient “muscle soreness.

The chiropractors provide a conservative alternative to medications and more invasive procedures. Chiropractors can offer spinal manipulation as well as therapies and exercises and nutritional recommendations to help you obtain safe and effective pain relief without the risks that are associated with many medications and surgical procedures.

In the last few years, the health care community recognized the benefits of conservative care, such as chiropractic, especially for patients with back pain. And because of that, patients should always discuss alternative treatments with their doctor. You may have heard that chiropractic doesn’t work for some people, and that’s true. Every patient is different and different treatments give different results, all depending on the patient’s diagnosis, overall health, lifestyleand risk factors.